005: The Forgotten Past

Lyra’s POV

At the parking lot, Killian opened the door to a sleek black car.

I hesitated, reality crashing down on me like a tidal wave.

“Get in,” Killian said, his voice flat. “Unless you want to go back and beg your father’s forgiveness?”

I got in. I had no choice. I wanted revenge, and I would go the extra miles to get it, no matter how I felt.

Inside the car, silence stretched between us. I was trembling, my hands shaking in my lap. The mate bond pulled at me relentlessly, making me hyper-aware of Killian’s presence beside me. His scent filled the small space, pine, earth, and pure dominance. It was intoxicating and suffocating all at once.

I broke the silence. “Why are you helping me? You don’t even know what I’m running away from.”

Killian didn’t answer immediately. His jaw was tight, hands gripping the steering wheel like he was holding himself back from something.

“I don’t care about your problems,” he finally said. His voice was cold. “You made a scene. Claimed you’re pregnant with my child. Now you’ll play that role… fully.”

His wolf was restless. I could sense it, feel it through the bond humming between us.

Shame washed over me. It hadn’t been my intention, but I didn’t know what other lie to use in that situation.

I pushed back. “I can leave the city. You don’t have to…”

“You don’t want revenge on Adrian?” Killian cut me off sharply. “You think he’ll just let you go? You humiliated him in front of two packs. He’ll hunt you down.” He paused, his eyes flicking to me briefly. “Your only protection now is me.”

The mate bond flared suddenly, sharp and electric.

Our eyes met in the rearview mirror.

I felt the pull intensely, overwhelmingly. Every instinct in me wanted to lean closer, touch him, and submit.

Killian’s eyes flashed gold before he looked away.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said roughly.

“Like what?” I whispered.

“Keep quiet,” he snapped.

***

We arrived at Killian’s estate shortly after.

It was massive, intimidating, a fortress built of dark stone and towering walls. The architecture screamed power and dominance, designed to remind anyone who entered that this was the territory of an Alpha who bowed to no one. Torches lined the pathway, casting flickering shadows across the grounds. Pack wolves patrolled the building, their eyes sharp and watchful.

I felt their eyes on me as we stepped out of the car… judging, assessing. I looked down at my torn and dirty ceremonial dress, suddenly self-conscious.

A man approached us, probably around the same age as Killian.

“Alpha. We heard what happened.” He looked at me suspiciously before introducing himself. “I’m Damon. Alpha Killian’s Beta.”

He turned immediately back to Killian without waiting for my response or caring to ask my name.

He helped Killian remove his suit jacket.

“Is it true?” Damon asked. “She’s your mate?”

“Yes,” Killian said flatly. “Spread the word. Inform my father and mother as well.”

***

Inside the estate, Killian led me to a private room.

He sat on a couch like a king on his throne. I was still standing, unsure of what to do with myself.

Killian poured himself a drink, the amber liquid swirling in the glass.

He finally turned to face me, twirling the glass lazily.

“You’ll stay here. In my territory, under my protection,” Killian said, laying out the rules. “You’ll act as my mate in public. Attend pack functions. Play the role convincingly.”

He paused, taking a slow sip.

“In return, I’ll help you get your revenge. I’ll kill anyone you tell me to kill. I’ll protect you from your family.”

I swallowed hard. “Are you willing to fight Adrian? Take everything from him?”

Killian’s lips curved into a dark smirk. “I already started.”

My breath caught. “What about the slave thing you mentioned?”

Killian stepped closer… too close. The heat between us rose instantly, the mate bond crackling like electricity.

“You’ll do exactly as I say, when I say it,” he said, his voice dropping lower.

“I won’t be controlled again,” I said stubbornly, lifting my chin. “I just escaped one prison.”

Before I could finish, Killian grabbed my chin… rough, firm. His eyes blazed gold.

“This isn’t a negotiation, little wolf.”

His grip tightened slightly.

“You threw yourself at me. Now deal with the consequences.”

Standing this close, the bond was overwhelming. My wolf screamed inside me to submit, accept him, and to bare my neck.

Killian’s control was slipping. I could see it in his eyes… the way the gold bled into the brown, the way his breathing changed.

He released me suddenly, stepping back like I’d burned him.

Without another word, he left the room.

As the door closed behind him, I started walking around, trying to steady my breathing.

The room was large, decorated simply but expensively. Dark furniture, heavy curtains, bookshelves lining one wall.

Then something caught my eye.

A photograph on the table, covered in a thin layer of dust.

I picked it up, wiping the dust away carefully.

It was a young Killian, maybe ten or eleven years old, standing next to a girl with long dark hair and bright eyes.

A girl who looked exactly like me.

My head suddenly pounded, a sharp stabbing pain behind my eyes.

A flash of memory hit me like lightning.

‘A boy with brown eyes. Laughter echoing through trees. A small hand gripping mine. A voice, young and fierce: “I’ll always protect you, Lyra.”’

I gasped, nearly dropping the photograph.

The door opened.

Damon entered.

I turned to him, holding up the picture with trembling hands. “Who is this boy in the picture?”

My mind already knew the answer, but I needed to hear it.

“That’s Killian,” Damon said simply. He approached me, his expression serious. “Alpha Killian isn’t helping you out of kindness. You and your family destroyed him years ago.”

I stared at him, shocked. My heart was racing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve never met him before today.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed. “You really don’t remember?”

He stepped closer.

“Seventeen years ago, your father nearly killed him.” His voice dropped. “And you watched them do it.”

No.

That couldn’t be true.

My wolf became weak inside me, whimpering. My chest was beating so fast I thought it might burst.

“No,” I said, shaking my head harder. “That’s not true. It’s not…”

I didn’t wait for him to respond. I stormed out of the room, the photograph still clutched in my hand.

I was just walking through the hallways, looking for Killian. I needed to hear the truth from him. I didn’t know where he was, but I needed to find him.

Then I heard a sound and stopped.

“Ahhh!”

“Fuck!”

“Deeper!”

I froze.

Slowly, I walked toward the door, which was already slightly ajar.

I pushed it open.

Killian was sitting on a couch, spread out like a king. His head was thrown back in pleasure, his shirt unbuttoned, his chest rising and falling.

A woman knelt between his legs, her head moving up and down as Killian’s hand guided her.

My heart shattered.

Just then, Killian’s eyes snapped open.

Fixed directly on me.

And then, he gave me a cold, satisfying smirk.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​